A man who recently moved from Fall River is dead after allegedly shooting at police officers.
According to Bristol County District Attorney ThomasQuinn, III, 39-year-old Derek Rego has been identified as the suspect who fired at police last evening in New Bedford.
Rego was pronounced deceased on scene on Blackmer Street after being found in a stairwell inside of the building suffering from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Rego had no other injuries to his person and was found with a firearm resting on his abdomen.
Shortly after 7:00 p.m., the New Bedford Police Detective Division attempted to stop a red Jeep Cherokee. That motor vehicle failed to stop, and the operator of the fleeing vehicle fired at police. The Jeep eventually came to a stop at the intersection of Blackmer Street and South Second Street.
The operator, later identified as Rego, fled into his residence on Blackmer Street. A 3-year-old male relative of the suspect was located unharmed in the Jeep.
While inside of his Blackmer Street home, the suspect fired additional rounds at police, who returned fire. A large police presence was prompted that included additional members of the New Bedford Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the SEMLAC Regional SWAT, Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, Drone Unit and FIRST Team.
Entry was made into the home by the SEMLEC Regional SWAT after a drone was able to remotely view the suspect deceased in the stairway of the building.
The official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Friends say that Rego, who had recently moved to New Bedford from Fall River, had turned his life around, was a good father to his children, and had been operating a successful auto detailing business which left some shocked after last night’s developments. Some who knew Rego called for better mental health services particularly after long incarcerations.
Neighbors expressed concern that officers and others in the area were placed in jeopardy as shots rang out at authorities.
The investigation into this matter is active and ongoing by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and the New Bedford Police Department.
